Core sector growth moves up to 8.7% in Feb

Production of six core sector industries increased 8.7% in February 2008 when compared with 7.6% in February 2007. On a sequential basis, the infrastructure sector growth more than doubled from 4.2% in the previous month.

The rise in the index of six core infrastructure industries during the month under reivew was aided by cement, power and coal sectors.The other three sectors - crude petroleum, finished (carbon steel) and refinery products - registered slower growth rates in February.

Coal sector growth increased to 11.7% from 6.5%, and the power sector recorded a rise of 9.6% from 3.3% in February 2007. Cement production growth stood at 12.4% as against 5.8% in February 2007.

Data released by the commerce ministry today showed that growth in the core infrastructure industries between April and February stood at 5.6% as against  8.7% in the year-ago period.